Undercliffe may be only seven points behind the leaders in the JCT600 Bradford League First Division but skipper Ben Heritage isn’t making any predictions as to how the rest of the season will go.

The Intake Road side were bottom of the table with 28 points on May 7 after they were beaten by Cleckheaton.

But a run of four straight victories has propelled them to fourth in the table.

They have 104 points and, in a congested battle for the title, they are headed by Woodlands (108), Bradford & Bingley (109) and leaders Farsley (111).

“We haven’t set ourselves a target as to where we want to finish because the Bradford League is more competitive than ever this season,” said 23-year-old Heritage.

“Two wins can put you right up there but two defeats can put you down at the bottom.”

Only 32 points separate the bottom and the top after eight matches, and that is precious little when you think that teams can collect a maximum of 20 points for a win.

Heritage, whose dad Russell is director of cricket, added: “We must be the youngest team in the league.

“Matthew Bottomley is the second oldest at 26 and I have learned a lot from Ashley Metcalfe. He is great with the lads and has so much experience.”

Undercliffe have beaten Gomersal by 31 runs, Pudsey Congs by 45 runs, Farsley by one wicket and Pudsey St Lawrence by three wickets since their last league reversal, and Heritage junior added: “We had a lot of new signings over the winter and it has taken the lads a bit of time to gel.”

Yorkshire second-teamer Callum Geldart has been their main run-scorer, hitting 119 in the defeat by Bradford & Bingley, 78 against Gomersal and 84 against Pudsey Congs.

However, he is currently sidelined with a posterior cruciate ligament injury, which Heritage calls “a massive blow”.

That could put more pressure on Bottomley, Heritage, Ammer Mirza, Metcalfe and overseas all-rounder Nawaz Sardar to score runs but Heritage is confident that they will come good.

He said: “Ammer has joined us from Church in the Lancashire League, and I was delighted that he got 73 last week against St Lawrence.

“Matthew has taken a bit of time to adjust having joined us from Keighley in Division Two but he is a really nice lad and a gutsy batsman.

“Ashley helped us to beat St Lawrence with 49 not out, and Nawaz is always likely to score 30 or 40 for us and take three or four wickets.

“Also Tom Hudson, a good friend of mine from Salaire, is doing well with his leg-spin.”

Undercliffe will bid to make it a nap hand of victories at Hanging Heaton on Saturday, who thrashed Bingley by 180 runs last weekend.

Skipper Heritage said: "I thought Bingley were the best team we have faced all season, so Hanging Heaton will be a tough game."